NASHVILLE, Tenn. – En los Estados Unidos más de seis millones de adultos mayores enfrentan la amenaza del hambre todos los días. Muchos no hacen todas las comidas o compran alimento de baja calidad para gastar menos. Ante este aumento del hambre en el país, la AARP hace equipo con el legendario piloto de carreras Jeff Gordon en la "Drive to End Hunger" (Carrera Contra el Hambre) que tendrá lugar este 27 de agosto en la pista Bristol Motor Speedway.

Al iniciar la recesión, un sexto de los tennesseés se enfrentan a la amenaza del hambre. De ellos, veinte por ciento tienen 45 años de edad, o más, y la AARP Tennessee se mantiene firme en su esfuerzo por llamar la atención sobre este problema creciente. Tara Shaver, directoria de Community Outreach (Enlace Comunitario) de esta organización, dice que el estado está entre los primeros en la lista de los que tienen demasiados habitantes con insuficiencia alimentaria.

"Tennessee ocupa el cuarto lugar entre los 15 primeros estados con problemas alimentarios. El año pasado Memphis fue nombrada la capital nacional del hambre y sigue entre los 5 primeros lugares."

La Drive to End Hunger (Carrera Contra el Hambre) comienza este lunes a lo largo del estado. Por cada boleto comprado, la AARP ofrece paquetes especiales de boletos a los fanáticos de la velocidad. Los detalles pueden consultarse en el sitio de la AARP Tennessee: .

Desde 2007, el número de personas atendidas por la Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee (Segunda Cosecha de Tennessee Noreste) ha crecido 47 por ciento. Shaver dice que a nivel nacional este aumento es más elevado en adultos mayores.

"Ha habido un 115 por ciento de aumento en la cantidad de personas mayores que enfrentan el hambre. Ha sido un problema que hace que mucha gente batalle. Tal vez tus vecinos, gente cercana o tus familiares tengan este problema y tú ni siquiera lo sabes."

Aunque la Drive to End Hunger (Carrera Contra el Hambre) está todavía a semanas de distancia, Shaver añade que la AARP trabaja con voluntarios y empresas a nivel local, organizando varios eventos para el 27 de agosto, día de la carrera en Bristol.

"Participaremos en una exhibición de autos en el área de Tri-Cities, donde aceptaremos donaciones a través de la Campaña Food City Food and Funds."

Usted puede hacer un donativo de 10 dólares a esta causa enviando un mensaje de texto con la palabra "HUNGER" al 50555 desde su teléfono móvil. Si prefiere hacerlo en línea, visite la página www.drivetoendhunger.com>.

Shaver agrega que cada 10 dólares de donativo se traducen en aproximadamente 40 dólares de comidas para los hambrientos.

Más información sobre AARP Tennessee en la página aarp.org


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A new national survey says one in five Americans 50 and older has nothing in savings for retirement.

Wisconsin workers young and old are being urged to take action now, to avoid added financial stress in their later years.

The survey results were issued by AARP this month.

Just affording basic expenses right now is a concern for many. But AARP Wisconsin's Communications Director Jim Flaherty said you don't want to be caught off guard when retirement nears.

He acknowledged that it can be hard for younger adults to plan that far ahead, when they're juggling expenses like student loan debt - or for older individuals managing costly medications, and higher grocery bills.

"A lot of times, because they're just trying to get by and they do have to live paycheck-to-paycheck," said Flaherty. "But this is one way to say, 'Hey, if you can live with a little less from your paycheck every week, that will sure grow.'"

Researchers note that 57 million Americans don't have access to a retirement plan through their work.

Wisconsin has not yet joined the list of states that have created state-operated retirement accounts, where employers and their workers can contribute money each pay period.

Supporters hope the issue is revisited next legislative session.

Flaherty said a combination of individuals being proactive and policymakers easing household budget pressure can hopefully put more people on a path toward a healthy retirement.

He said making progress can deter them from looking elsewhere to spend their golden years.

"Let's have an infrastructure that makes drugs affordable, that makes healthcare affordable, that makes retirement savings something that's part of their plan," said Flaherty. "And that'll keep Wisconsinites here."

And groups like AARP have encouraged Congress to address long-term stability concerns for Social Security, so that younger workers can anticipate full benefits.

Some Republican lawmakers have floated cuts, but senior advocates contend any solutions to make the program stronger should not be tied to deficit talks.

Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet.

Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access.

"Our goal through the broadband office and with all our stakeholders throughout Oregon is to provide access to all 112,000 unserved locations and as many of the 60,000 underserved locations as we can," Batz explained.

The state has received federal funding from a variety of sources, including nearly $690 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and more than $150 million from the Capital Projects Fund approved in the American Rescue Plan Act from 2021.

Oregon's Digital Equity Plan has also been approved and along with it, nearly $10 million in funding.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said there was a time when high-speed broadband internet was considered a luxury.

"Now, it's such a big necessity for everyone, including for older adults," Shrestha pointed out. "Because we know that if you don't have connectivity, you're not going to be able to see your doctor when you want to. Telemedicine is not going to be possible."

Batz added his office is working to ensure every Oregonian can get on the internet.

"It is an interesting challenge," Batz observed. "Nothing has been done like this in Oregon's history of trying to get internet access to everybody. So, it's going to be quite the challenge and it's absolutely going to require participation from everybody to make this happen."

Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.

Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.

House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.

Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.

"We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years," Nelson pointed out. "Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues."

Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.

State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.

Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.

"For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes," Nelson emphasized. "And of course, the staff of the nursing home that's in the community."

Census data show South Dakota's population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.